Light-distributing means



W. H. FHITON.

LIGHT DISTHIBUHNG MEANS.

APPUCATIUN mm MAR. :3. ma.

1,335,889. Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

INT/ENTER WILLIAM H. FULTON, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNEYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

LIGHT-DISTRIBUTING MEANS.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed March 13, 1916.. Serial No. saam.

' To all whom it may coriccr'n:

and to the characters 0 Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Fuuron, a citizen of the United States, and a resi dent of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania have invented a certain new and useful Light-Distributing Means; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it apertains to make and use the same, reference ing{'had to the accom an ing drawings, re erence-marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

'This invention relates to light distributing means and more particularly but not necessarily to a headlamp for motor driven vehicles.

The object of my invention is, the ovision, in combination with ,a strong bea of light from a light source, of simpl'ean eflicient means of eriodically interrupting and diverting said beam so as to illuminate successive portions of a large area, the ,fre-

quency of such periods being such that a continuous impression is made on the retina. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a headlamp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section thereof with the motorcase in full. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section onthe line a=-:n in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the revoluble deflector.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a,

headlamp frame or casing, which, in the present mstance,,is of prismatic form and providedfiat its rear'side with a reflector 2 refe abl of parabolic form, and has its sidesprovided with windows 3 ront an I throu h which 'thelight rays are transmitted. p t will be understood that while I have shown a particular form of lamp, this is merely for illustrative purposes, and a lamp .of any other suitable shape or design may be employed without departing from the fi spirit of the invention, which resides more particularly in the means employed for varying the direction of reflection of the 'li ht rays, than in the lamp construction;

the reflector 2 is periodically intercepted at constantly changing angles, causing said beam to fall on successive portions of the area within its range.

The member 5 comprises, in the present instance, a plurality of polished double faced deflecting plates 6, which are vertically disposed and connected together in rigidly spaced relation by top and bottom frame pieces or strips 7 and tie-rods 8. A shaft 9 projects up between the center pair of flanges 6 through the strips 7, to WllICll it is fixed, and is journaledin any suitable mannor in the top and bottom of the case 1, whereby the deflector member 5 is permitted to horizontally rotate. The lower end of the shaft 9 extends down into a motor case '10 on the bottom of the case 1 and connects in any suitable manner with a motor 11, which is mounted within the case and is preferably of the electrical type. It is thus evident that when the motor isrnnning, the deflector member 5 will be rapidly r0- tated. y

In the use of my device, it will be understood that a parabolic reflector such as 2, throws a strong beam of light, customarily not'exceeding an angle of 15 degrees. The rapid revolving of the plates 6 in the light beam diverts the light rays from their path of reflection by the reflector 2 and results in illuminating an area of approximately 180 degrees, such area being determined by the portion of the case composed of glass or windows and'the relation of the member 5 thereto. Due to the dimming effect of the short periods'of illumination, it is necessary to increase the candle-power of the lamp in orderto maintain the same apparent intensit of beam. This can readily be accompished by increasing the candle power of t 1e light source 4. The gain in this con? rays of light and a large portion of the reflected rays stl'uctlull may be briefly stated as follows: Ordinarily two independent lamps of usual design on an automobile give strong illumination over an angle of approximately 30 degrees. Combine the power of the two lamps into one in my device and the effective intensity is approximately the same but the field illuminated is increased to appr0ximately IHU degrees. or the nnixinium field of illumination permitted by the lamp case. The direct result is that side streets and curves, that is to say, the danger points. are

properly illui'ninated.

It will, of course he understood that the area illuminated by the lamp dept-ads on the window space in the lamp case 1. By extending the window s ace to the back of the lamp, the area of il umination will ex-- tend over nearly 300 degrees.

It will be noted that in the ordinary headlamp using;' a parabolic reflector. i1 is necessary to proportion the parts and locate the lamp in such a manner that there will be a certain *spill of light to illuminate a sul'- licient area of the road. In other words. the lamp must be out of fovus and consequently leaves the reflector at an angle above the horizontal. These are the rays that cause the objectionable glare in the ordinary form of headlight. In the design shown herewith, it is possible to concentrate the rays into practically a parallel beam and to so set the dcvice that the uppermost rays of the beam shall fall below the horizontal and conse quently these rays will not strike the eye of a person approaching the lamp. and therefore the objia-tionable glare is eliminated. It is to be noted that the revolving deflectors are an essential part of the combination for producing the non-glaring results. as other wise-the area illuminated by t concentrated beam would not be suflicient for practiral purposes.

1 wish it understood thatniy invention is not limited to any specific construction. arrangei'nent or form of the parts or number of deflecting plates erni'iloyed, as it is capa- -ble of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire to secure by Lctters Patent. is u 7 I. A light distributing device having a source oi' light. and means having openings lherethrough disposed in the path of the (anitinuously movable and operable as a unit to cause a rapid intermittent interruption of the direct light rays and a deflection of the interrupted light rays at constantly changing angles:

2. A light distributing device having a source of light. and means embodying a plurality of. spaced deflecting plates continuously movable to periodically intercept the light rays at constantly changing angles and causing them to fall on successive portion. of" the area within its range.

ii. A light distributing device having a source of light. and means en'ihodying a plurality of spaced deflecting plates rovoluhlc to periodically intercept the light rays at vonstantl'y rlninging; angles and causing them to fall on successive portions of UN area within its range.

4. A light distributing device having a source of light. and rotatable means disposed in the path of the light rays and operable to cause a rapid inthrmittonl interruption of the direct light rays and a do flecting of said rays at constanthv changing; angles. said means when rotated permitting an intermittent proivrling ol the light rays tlicrcthrough.

5. light distributing ll-vice having a source of light. and means having rrv lubl parallel dclimtor parts disposed in tho path of the ligl'it rays to:- rapidly varying the direction of dclh-rlion ol' the light rays. the movement ol' the dvllertor parts being edge wise.

{3. A light distributing device having a source of light, and means having rcvoluble deflector parts disposed in the path of the li Till rays for rapidly varying the direction oi deflection of the light rays and spaced in the plane of revolution to intermittently permit the passage of light rays thercbetween.

7. A light distributing device having a source of light. a reflector for concentrating a portion oi the emitted light into a beam. having parallel rays. projected on a portion ot the area to be illuminated, and means having openings lherethrough (lispi'ised in the path of the concentrated beanr and con tinuonsly movable to intermittently inten rcpt said beam and causing: it to be rapidly deflected in different directions.-

A light distributing device having a source of light. a reflector for the light rays. a plurality of spaced ray deflecting parts rapidly movable in the path of the reflected rays to cause a periodical interception of the light rays at constantly changing angles and a rapid variation of the direction. of deflection thereof. and means for rapidly and coi'itinuously moving the deflecting parts in one direction.

5). The combii-iation with a source of light. of a plurality of deflector plates revolubly mounted in the path of the light rays and spaced to permit a projection of the light rays thcrebetiveen when at predetermined points in a revolution. and means for continuously and rapidly revolving said plates.

10. The combination with a source of light. of a reflector for the light rays. a deflector movably mounted in the path of the reflected rays and having a plurality of spaced deflector parts, permitting a projecting of the light rays therethrough, and means for continuous y and rapidly revolving said "parts to cause a period lcal interception and deflecting of the rays at constantly changing an les.

11. In a light distributing device, a case having front and side windows, a source of light, means for reflecting the light rays forward in the case, and continuously revoluble means for periodically intercepting" the reflected light rays at constantly changing angles to uniformly deflect the rays through both said front and side windows of the case.

12. In a light distributing device, a case having front and side windows, a source of light, means for reflecting the light rays forward in the case, and continuousl movable means forperiodically intercepting the reflected light rays at constantly changing angles to uniformly distribute the rays through both said front and side windows of the case, the upper and lower edges of the rays being confined in substantially parallel lines by the top and bottom of the case.

13. In a light distributing device, a source of light, a reflector for the light rays, a continuously and rapidly movable deflector hav ing a plurality of spaced deflector parts and operable as a unit to periodically interrupt the reflected light rays and also to deflect the rays in one plane at constantly changing angles, and means for confining the upper and lower edges of the reflector rays in predeh "mined limits.

14. A light distributing device having a source of light, a reflector concentrating a portion of the emitted light into a beam, raving parallel rays, projected on a portion of the area to be illuminated, and continually moving means disposed in the path of the concentrated beam for periodically permitting it to project therethrough and periodically causing it to be intercepted. and rapidly deflected in different directions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

VVILLTAM ll. FULTON. 

